Take One for the Team

You know that giddy feeling when you have good news to share with your employees? Those moments have more emotional weight in our industry because our companies are filled with family, whether actual blood relations or folks who feel like they are. Their successes are your successes, both literally boosting business and bursting hearts with parental-like pride. So when the entire team has an accomplishment to celebrate, it’s nothing short of an event.

Imagine being able to tell your staff: “We are finalists for the 2013 Showroom of the Year Awards[2]!” Well, right now we are in the last days of accepting entries[3] (and nominations[4] – others in the industry can also recognize favorite retailers) for this year’s honors, which we present in partnership with the Dallas Market Center[5] each June. Any independent lighting showroom in North America is eligible, and we give awards in three dollar-volume categories (under $2 million annual revenue, under $5 million, and $5 million and over) so you’re competing with comparable businesses.

Now imagine having to tell your staff: “You’re doing a great job, but I just couldn’t get our Showroom of the Year entry done before the Feb. 28 deadline.” Unthinkable, right? You may be too humble or (understandably) “too busy” to fill in the online entry form. But it’s a very small effort compared to the 110% your team delivers every day. With their above-and-beyond actions, each of them is telling you, L’Oreal[6] style: “I’m worth it.”